DUBLIN: Three cases of the Brazilian variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Ireland for the first time, the Department of Health said.
They are all directly linked to recent travel from the South American country, authorities said. Public health teams are following them and positive steps have been taken.
Ireland’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “Anyone who has recently traveled from Brazil, or any of the other 19 countries recently named by the Minister for Health as a ‘Section 2’, must , quarantine at home for 14 days. ”
The Brazilian variant could be much more contagious or easy to catch than the original version of coronavirus. It has undergone changes in its spike protein – the part of the virus that binds to human cells. It first appeared in July.
Dr Glynn said: “This P1 variant has previously been identified in a small number of European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
“Although there is currently no microbiological or epidemiological evidence of any change in P1 transmission, this remains to be seen. Further studies are needed to determine whether this difference is likely to affect vaccine efficacy or the severity of the disease. “Approximately 90 per cent of Covid-19 cases in Ireland are related to the UK variant.
The numbers of new diseases and pressure on hospitals have eased and the death toll has started to decline after weeks of tight curves. The emergence of new coronavirus mutations introduces considerable uncertainty in predicting when society may return to normal, public health experts have said.
The Republic recently passed the hard milestone of 4,000 deaths from the disease during the latest wave of
mortality. Taoiseach Michael Martin has warned that strict restrictions to reduce the spread of the disease could remain in April. Schools and childcare will gradually open next month after health experts gave the Government the green light to begin reducing weeks of tight locking.
Next week ministers are expected to update the Living with Covid plan.
Ireland has also strengthened its vaccination program.
A further 80,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were given this week, with another 100,000 doses expected next week.
An additional 28 people have died from Covid-19, the Department of Health said Friday. A further 763 diseases were diagnosed. A total of 151 people were in hospital intensive care units on Friday morning.
